Role Playing Games For Jocks

by Joe Dunman on Sep 19, 2008 10:15 AM MDT in News Comment 24 comments

I never really got into fantasy sports. I've started at least a dozen fantasy baseball and/or fantasy hockey teams in my day, only to lose interest and give up on them by the tenth or eleventh game of the season. Constantly shuffling players and lineups to maximize the number of points earned just seems like work. Besides, I'd rather just watch the games and appreciate the stats without taking on the stress of running a team without getting paid for it.

But some people freakin' love fantasy sports. I always thought it was funny that jocks and dudebros (you know the types, mostly from New Jersey) could so easily get into role playing games when they were disguised as sports-related. You're still nerds, you nerds.

For those of you who are really into fantasy sports, namely fantasy hockey, TSN ran a piece a week or so ago about which players on the Avalanche would be good to draft for your own team. Obviously, considering injury woes and bad coaching, last year's performances didn't really boost the attractiveness of much of the Avs roster.

But there are still some gems. Joe Sakic and Peter Paul Stastny are still highly recommended draft picks, and John-Michael Liles still gets some love (ladies...). Other than that, though, the depth chart is a little slim, at least as far as fantasy stats go.

The fantasy guy at TSN wasn't so hot on the Avalanche goalies, either. With Budaj still largely untested from a full season perspective (not his fault!), and Raycroft completely melting down last year, neither was recommended as a pick. Oh well.

I guess Budaj will have to wait until next year to become a fantasy sports darling.

TSN ran this table:

Avsdepthchart_medium

What's everybody think? Pretty accurate?

Anyway, just thought I'd share the link with everybody, in case you care.

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Read More: avalanche, fantasy sports, tsn

Comments

Nerd Alert!

They must know Leoprone will be injured soon. If he was healthy, he should score more than Foote and Hannan.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Sep 19, 2008 10:49 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Leoprone would be ahead of those two. I guess they think McCormick won’t make the roster.

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 19, 2008 12:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s a strong possibility that he won’t. If Granato continues the McLeod love affair that Coach Q seemed to have, then McCormick is going to get left out more than not. Personally, I think most of us prefer the classy Cody to the dirty one.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 19, 2008 12:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Prefer

Not only do i personally prefer it, butMcCormick is a better fit for this team. With Ledin, Tucker and Lappy in the lineup the Avs have plenty of pests. McCormick is better at killing penalties (albeit not as good offensively).

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 19, 2008 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

They should put a mic on McLeod for a game and see how much the FCC will allow before throwing down a heavy fine. I predict they will allow nothing.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Sep 19, 2008 2:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think any player would get away with much these days.

"To have arrived on this Earth as a product of a biological accident, only to depart through human arrogance, would be the ultimate irony"
R. Leakey, Origins; 1977
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Sep 19, 2008 7:06 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

So just thinking out loud…
If the lines actually look like that (which they could) we would again have an RPM line
and that third line being the DDT line?

Be interesting to see how the last two lines actually fill in and who play on a regular basis.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Sep 19, 2008 1:06 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’ve avoided thinking about line combinations because training camp hasn’t really started yet and the roster isn’t final. But I’d be surprised to see David Jones start the season with the Avs, considering they’ll probably want to give Per Ledin a run for his money. You know, kind of a Hlinka-like test run, only this time without the bad coaching.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 19, 2008 1:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mismatch

Could there be a worse mismatched line than Tucker centered with Arnason? I can’t imagine Tucker being able to put up with Arnason’s propensity for being intimidated.

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 19, 2008 2:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the plus side

He may end up “accidently” injuring Arny.

by Savage33 on Sep 19, 2008 7:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

looks about right to me

And I’d be shocked if Davey Jones didn’t make the team. Battles in camp are probably Arnason / Hensick (and Hensick will REALLY have to outperform him), and Ledin / McLeod.

by thedoctor on Sep 19, 2008 1:37 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You’d think it would be pretty easy for Hensiiick to outperform Arnason. You’d think.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 19, 2008 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

On goaltending...

From the RMN yesterday

Budaj went 16-10-4 last season with a 2.57 average and .903 saves percentage in 35 games. He has a career record of 61- 36-16 with five shutouts, a 2.70 average and .903 saves percentage but must prove he can excel during a full season.

“Peter has done everything that’s been asked of him,” Giguere said. “He’s proven, if you go back two years ago, that he can (carry) a team for a while. But until he’s put in the position of playing meaningful games (for an entire season), that’s when we’ll know.”

So if Budaj hasn’t been put in the “position of playing meaningful games (for an entire season),” how is it he lost is starting job to Theo? Maybe I’m reading into it to much, but sounds like Guiguere never thought Boods was the number one the last two seasons. That’s pretty close to coming out and saying it was a “resurrect Theo or else” attitude around the office.

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Sep 19, 2008 2:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’d say the signs are pretty clear.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 19, 2008 7:49 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

So if Budaj hasn’t been put in the "position of playing meaningful games (for an entire season)," how is it he lost is starting job to Theo? Maybe I’m reading into it to much, but sounds like Guiguere never thought Boods was the number one the last two seasons. That’s pretty close to coming out and saying it was a "resurrect Theo or else" attitude around the office.

Actually the way I read it is that Giggy is basically saying this is one of the reason’s Q was let go.

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 19, 2008 2:34 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

He has good stats, but never got to play an extended role, is he message I see.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Sep 19, 2008 2:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t argue with that.

"A witty saying proves nothing."
- Voltaire (1694-1778)

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 19, 2008 4:15 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Am I seriously the only one who noticed the fact that you said “Joe Sakic and Peter Stastny are still highly recommended draft picks…” ?

by Rather Dashing on Sep 19, 2008 5:32 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

good eye.

It feels natural to read it as Peter.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Sep 19, 2008 5:46 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha! Good eye. I was reading an article about Peter just before writing this post and it carried over. Peter, Paul, they’re both awesome.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Sep 19, 2008 7:51 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hensick versus Arnason

I agree with the doctor. I think Jones makes the team and how great would it be if Hensick put Arnason on the trade sheets or at Lake Erie. I think Hensick can achieve this. He is working…working. I forget have we ever seen Arnason work extra hard? Maybe Tucker will help.

by eve on Sep 19, 2008 7:48 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs